Over the course of the year I had a lot of adventures and experiences, alone, with Crystal (my wife), with family and friends. It was both a rewarding and challenging year. Below are probably the top twelve events for me.

Over the holiday weekend my wife had an opportunity to attend a conference in Nice, so I joined her. Nice is an absolutely gorgeous French city. It is even better on the off season when it is a little cooler and fewer tourists. The weather was fantastic with highs in the mid 60’s each day. […]

I am not a fast biker. Mostly because I am busy looking around at my environment to take pictures, so I am not concentrating on pace. In the end I get passed regularly. Right now it appears to be by groups of bikers in club uniforms, so I just shrug it off.

I always try to have my GoPro cameras running. Yesterday, I got passed by an an old lady which one of my GoPros decided to film. Usually fog or dirt or battery prevents any good shots.

I added the jet sound, but you can hear in the background comments made by a a person in a biking group (they were just getting ready to start). that I was passing as the old lady passed me.

Sunday mornings have rapidly become my opportunity to explore by bicycle the scenery, the sites and routes in and around the area I live. It has the advantage of less traffic and great lighting for pictures. I get up at first light which right now is at about 0745 and just ride a random 15-20 mile loop. My goal is to stay on the country roads and not the main roads. While the main roads all have bike paths on them around here the scenery is just not as interesting.

All week, we have had 60-70 F weather (13-20 C) with a bit of fog in the morning, so it was a pleasant morning ride. I headed East and South which took me through Aalbeek, Nuth, Klimmen and Hulsberg.

Harvest is in full swing now so the roads and paths are rough with farm debris, which makes for a dirty bike at the end of the ride. Along the ride I saw piles of harvested sugar beets and potatoes. Naturally all over there are the fall colors on the trees.

Along the ride I came across the pictured castle, outside of one of the little farm villages. It looks like it has a couple of towers and a moat with a stone bridge. The castle appears to be converted into a restaurant. Unfortunately pedaling early, I am not able to explore the grounds as it is closed up, but nice to look at from the road.

This area that I live in and ride through is fascinating to me as I run into castles everywhere and is littered with history predating the US. My personal interests lie in I like biking, history and exploring new places combining all three makes its a great ride. If there was coffee involved it would have been a perfect ride.

I guess I will have to come back another day to Castle Rivieren for a coffee!

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